Cleaning apparatus



May 13, 1958 T. 1. KEARNEY CLEANING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 4. 1954 INVENTOR.'

f5 BY A A? Z A TTORNE YS.

May 13, 1958 T. J. KEARNEY CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 4, 1954 ISvShveets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.'

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T/zomas l Hear/26g, BY @A @l ATTORNEYS.

May 13, 1958 Filed Aug. 4, 1954 T. J. KEARNEY CLEANING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 JNVENTOR: Zal/ms Emp/Ley;

BY @MQ/L ATTORNEYS.

United States arent CLEANING APPARATUS Thomas J. Kearney, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Detrex Chemical Industries, Inc.,` Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application August 4, 1954, Serial No. 447,780 3 Claims. (Cl. 134-74) Serial No. 435,888 tiled by me on June l0, 1954, noW

Patent No. 2,802,476 dated August 13, 1957, for dissolving grease and at the same time removing clinging dirt or soil from small machine parts, as for example, cutters for electric razors or shavers, hypodermic needles, deep, drilled parts, etc. by treatment with chlorinated solvents such as trichlorethylene, perchlorethylene or the like. In apparatus of the kind referred to the parts to be cleaned are conveyed through a housing wherein they are subjected, for delinite prescribed time intervals, rst to the action of hot solvent vapor, then to a spray of hot solvent projected from a jet pipe, then to immersion in a solvent bath which is agitated at a supersonic frequency, and nally to another spray of clean solvent.

My present invention has for one of itsY aims, the provision of improved means, in connection with such cleaningk apparatus, for de-nuding solvent repeatedly used in the cleaning, particularly that used in the spraying of saw dust, chips, metallic particles, particles of paper as well as lapping, honing or buing compounds-all of which are ordinarily encountered in industrial metal cleaning-not' only with a view toward the achievement of more perfect cleaning, but toward precluding clogging Gf the spray pipes and the necessity for frequently remove ing; clogging material from them.

A further aim of my present invention is to obviate the need for physical entry into the interior of the apparatus in the event that cleaning of the spray pipes should become necessary after long protracted periods of operation of the apparatus. This objective is realized in practice as hereinafter fully disclosed by providing for the ready endwise withdrawal of the spray pipes laterally frornthe enclosure.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following detailed description of the attached drawings, wherein:

Fig; l is a view in side elevation of a degreasing apparatus conveniently embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view on a larger scale showing the mid portion of the apparatus partly in side elevation andpartly in longitudinal section, settling and separator units provided for removing contamination from the solvent before it is re-used for spraying purposes.

Fig, 3 is a fragmentary view in top plan looking as indicated by angled arrows III- Ill in Fig. l.

Fig, 4 is a view of the settling unit partly in elevation, and partly in section taken as indicated by angled arrows IV-iV in Figlv 2.

Figs. 5 and 6 are views of the separator unit partly in elevation and partly insection taken as indicated respectively by the angled arrows V-V and VI-Vl in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail section drawn to a larger scale` and taken as indicated in angled arrows VII-VII` in Fig. 2.

Patented May 1.3, 1958 Fig. 8 is a view like Fig,l 5 showing modified form of separator unit; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail section drawn to a larger scale and taken as indicated by the angled arrows IX-IX in Fig. 8.

The cleaning apparatus herein exemplified, comprises an elongate housing 15 which may be of sheet metal and in the lower portion of which are serially arranged as shown in Figs. l and 2, an evaporating trough 16, a spray catch tray 17, and a wash trough 1S. Grease solvent, which may be trichlorethylene or the like, is normally maintained at the level L in the evaporating trough 16 and is constantly boiled by the action of a submerged heating coil whereof the opposite ends are indicated at 19 and 26 in Fig. 2. Arranged over the catch tray 17 is a transversely-extending jet pipe 21 from which solvent is constantly sprayed downward into said tray during the operation of the apparatus. The wash trough 13 is kept filled with solvent to the level indicated at L1 in Fig. l, and disposedwithin said trough near the bottom is a supersonic agitating means 22 which may be of the form disclosed in the copending application hereinafter mentioned. In accordance with my present invention, the jet pipe 21 is aixed to a plate 23 which is'removably secured, by screw bolts over an opening 24 in the side of the enclosure 15.

Trained about a system ofl wheels 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 3d, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 within the housing 15 is an endless double sprocket chain conveyor 36 between the chains of which are suspended, at intervals, carriers 37 for the work to be cleaned. It is to be` understood that the carriers 37 are of an open type like those shownin the copending application, supra. Set apart by-apartition 49 adjacent one end of the housing 15 is a passageway 41 which is open at the front and in which the carriers 37 are accessible for loading and unloading as theA conveyor; chains pass 4down from the sprockets 25 to the sprocketsv26 in the direction of the arrow heads in Fig. l. After-rounding the sprockets 26, the conveyorchains are guided by the sprockets 27 and 28- over the top of the partition 40, and then down from the sprockets 28 to the sprockets 29 from whence they continue onhorizontally over the catch tray 17 to the sprockets 30. From the sprockets 3 9, the chains are directed downwardly once more, and, in their travel between the sprockets 31 and 32, pass horizontally over the wash trough 18. After leaving` the sprockets 32, the chains travel up tothe sprockets 33, and from thence continue on in a gener-ally horizontal path within the upper part of the housing 15 towardthe loading and unloading endV of the latter, being constrained to said path by the sprockets 34, 35 and 25. As shown in Fig. l the conveyer chains are driven by` an electric motor 42, through a sprocket or belt connection 43 with a transverse shaft 45'wheretoare affixed-sprockets 46 engaged with said conveyor chains.

Surrounding the housing medially of its height is a jacket 50-tlirough which-a coolant (which may be water) is circulated to maintain the solvent vapor within the housing approximately at the level L2 Well below theitop of the partition di) and thereby prevent escape thereof at the loading and unloading station. AtA the end oppositev the loading and unloading end, the upper portion of the housing it has an outward oli'set Si wherein is disposed a pair of transversely-arranged helical condensing coils 52 through which coolant is constantly circulated. The condensed solvent vapor falls from the coils 52l into a gutter at the bottom of the offset 51V fromwhence it spills over the dam indicated at 52 into the wash trough 18. During operation of the apparatus, the solvent is constantly drawn from the bottom of the wash trough 18 through a pipe line 5S by a.` circulating pump 56 which is belt driven from an electric motor 57, the solvent so turned to said trough.

For the purpose of keeping the solvent used in the vspraying perfectly clean and thereby prevent clogging of the spray pipe 21, I have provided the means about to be described. Positioned near the housing, in the illustrated instance alongside it, are two filter units 65 and 66 through which contaminated spray solvent caught in the tray 17 is passed in succession for removal therefrom of contamination in preparation for re-use in the spraying. For convenience of distinction, the filter unit 65 will be referred to hereinafter as the settling unit, and the filter unit 66 as the separator unit.

From Figs. 2-4 it will be noted that the settling unit 65 is in the form of a tank which is quadrangular in plan and which is provided with a removable cover 68. Fitting rather snugly within the tank is a conformative strainer basket 69 having perforated sides and bottom, said basket being provided at the top with handles 70 by which it can be withdrawn upwardly from the tank for cleaning, from time to time, upon removal of the cover 68. Arranged crosswise of the basket 69 is a vertical baffle 71 which terminates somewhat above the basket bottom and which extends to a point well above the normal liquid level in the tank. The spray solvent collected in the tray 17 is conducted, by way of a pipe line 72, 73, to the inlet 74 in the side wall 75 of the tank 65 near the top, the valve 76 in the pipe 73 being normally open, and flows downward into the basket to one side of the baffle 71, then beneath the baffle, and finally upward of the other side of said bafe before discharge through the outlet 77 in the opposite side wall 78 of said tank. The solvent is thus prevented from passing directly from the inlet 74, to the outlet 77 and is thereby delayed in the unit 65 for a sufficient time interval to insure effective settling of most of the entrained solid foreign matter. The tank 65 is further provided in its walls 78 above the solvent level with a vent 79 to permit draining of the solvent through a drain outlet indicated at 80 before the cover 68 is removed for access to the screen basket 69, the bottom 81 of the tank being sloped toward sai-d drain outlet.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2, 5, and 6, of the drawings, the separator unit 66 is likewise in the form of a tank which, as shown, may be of the same size, configuration and capacity as the tank of the settling unit 65 and which is similarly provided with a removable cover 82. The inlet 83 of the separator unit 66 is at the same level as the top outlet 77 of the settling unit 65, and is connected to said outlet by a pipe 84 wherein are interposed hand valves 85 and 86 which are kept open normally. The separator tank is interiorly subdivided by a transverse baie 87 which, like the baffle 71 in the unit 65, extends downward from a point above the liquid level in said tank and terminates somewhat short of the tank bottom. Arranged in vertically-spaced relation in the subdivision of the separator tank to the left of the baffle 87 is a series of horizontal tubes 88 which, in practice, are of non-magnetic metal. From Figs. and 7, it will be noted that the tubes 88 extend through the opposite walls 89 and 90 of the separator tank, and that they are open at opposite ends. Supported within the bottoms of the tubes 88 are substantially coeXtensive permanently-magnetized rods 91 of which the diameter is considerably less than the internal diameter of said tubes, said rods being secured together by a bar 92 for convenience of removal en masse. The V-section catch pan, designated 95 in Figs. 2 and 5, extends crosswise of the separator tank beneath the tubes 88 and is secured at one end to a removable cover plate 96 closing an opening 97 in the wall 89 of said tank. The flow outlet pipe 98 of the separator tank extends through the wall near the bottom of the latter, and removably mounted upon a vertical terminal branch 100 of said pipe in the subdivision of the tank to the right of the baffle 87, is a filter4 screen element 101 of fine wire mesh. Here, as in the unit 65, the baffle 87 prevents short 4 circuiting of the solvent between the inlet 83 and outlet for ow retardation, and insures effective circulation of the solvent between Vand about the tubes 88. Flow through the pipe 98 is controllable by means of a normally open hand valve indicated at 102. Moreover, here as in the settling unit 65, the tank of the separator 66 is provided in its front wall with a vent 104 to permit draining of the solvent through a drain outlet indicated at 105 before the cover 82 is removed, for access to the screen 101 when cleaning of the latter becomes necessary. Connected to the outlet pipe 98 of the separator unit 66 is a pipe line 106 which extends to the spray pipe 21 hereinbefore mentioned. interposed in the pipe line 106 is a pump 107 which, during operation of the apparatus, is constantly driven by a belt 108 from an electric motor 109, and a normally open hand valve 110 for regulating the rate of discharge of the solvent from the spray pipe 21. Part of the solvent passing through the separator unit 66 overflows into a pipe 111 which discharges into the evaporating trough 16. The bypass pipe designated 112 in Figs. l-3 is connected at one end 113 to the pipe 73 ahead of the valve 76, and at the other end 114 to the pipe 98 beyond the valve 102, and a medial branch 115 of said pipe 112 connects into the pipe 84 in the interval between the valves 85 and 86. The valves 116 and 117 respectively on the end and intermediate branches 113 and 115 of the bypass pipe 112 are normally kept closed.

As the carriers 37 overpass the wash trough 18, the articles in them are submerged in the `solvent in said trough and at the same time subjected to the action of the supersonic means 22 for positive dislodgment therefrom of any traces of foreign solid matter which may have been carried along. After emerging from the wash trough 18, the articles yin the carriers are subjected to a final spray of pure solvent ejected from another spray pipe shown at 54 in Fig. l.

From time to time, the magnet bars 91 are retracted from within the tubesA 88 for freeing of the accumulation of the attracted metallic particles from the surfaces of said tubes and gravitation of such accumulation into the pan 95 which as already understood is removable from the unit 66.

In the event that the jet pipe 21 should become clogged after protracted periods of use of the apparatus, it can be readily withdrawn for cleaning laterally from the housing 15 upon removal of the bolts by which the cover plate 23 is secured.

Due to the provision of the bypass pipe 112, the settling unit 65 can be idled for cleaning without necessitating idling of the separator unit 66. Thus, by closing the valves 76, 85 and opening the valves 116, 115, the flow from pipes 72 will be diverted around the unit 65 and conducted directly into the unit 66. On the other hand, by closing the valves 86, 102 and opening the valve 117, the flow from the unit 65 can be diverted around the unit 66. Again, if desired or found necessary for any reason, the flow from the pipe 72 can be diverted around both units 65 and 66 via the pipe 112 simply by closing the valves 76, 102 and opening the valve 116.

In the alternative form of separator unit 66a shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the tubes 88a containing the magnet bars 91a are connected at opposite ends to frame bars which are rigidly united at their tops by a cross rod 121. The ends of the rod 121 project outwardly beyond the frame bars 120 and are engaged in saddle blocks 122 aixed to the inner faces of opposite tank walls of the unit 66a. The tubes 88a are thus suspended in the tank of the unit 66a with capacity for being withdrawn upwardly en masse upon removal of the tank cover 82a. All other component elements of the modification of Figs. 8 and 9 not particularly referred to but having their counterparts in the first described embodiment of Figs. 5 and 6, are identified by the same reference numerals previously used with addition, however, in each instance,

ofthe letter a for convenience of more ready distinction.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In apparatus for cleaning machine parts or the like by treatment with a chlorinated solvent such as trichlorethylene, perchlorethylene and the like, a horizontally elongate housing having serially arranged therein, an evaporation trough in which the solvent is boiled olf, a catch tray with a spray means positioned thereover, and a Wash trough containing solvent; an endless chain conveyer with spaced carriers for the parts to be cleaned; a `system of guide Wheels defining a circuit from a loading and unloading station at one end of the housing through the housing such that the carriers are passed over the evaporating trough for treatment with solvent vapor, then over the catch tray beneath the spray means for spray treatment, and then submerged in the Wash trough; a separator tank with magnetic means therein; a settling tank having strainer means therein; a circulatory piping for conducting spray liquid collected in the tray back to the `spray pipe; valves interposed on the piping and selectively operable to determine passage of the spray solvent from the collecting tray through the settling and separator tanks in succession enroute from the tray to the spray means or through either the separator tank or the settling tank alone; and a pump also inter- 6 posed in the piping to maintain the spray solvent in circulation.

2. The invention according to claim 1, furtherV including a vsupersonic agitati'ng means disposed in the wash trough and submerged in the solvent thereof so as to be overpassed by the carriers while the parts in said carriers are submerged in said trough.

3. The invention according to claim 1,'further including a pipe for conducting part of the solvent collected in the separator tank to the evaporation trough.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 766,365 Lough Aug. 2, 1904 1,142,187 McGrath June 8, 1915 1,938,841 Koch Dec. 12, 1933 2,180,947 Ball Nov. 21, 1939 2,191,862 Jones Feb. 27, 1940 2,216,300 Shenk Oct. l, 1940 2,260,920 Shenk Oct. 28, 1941 2,273,939 Dammers Feb. 24, 1942 2,484,014 Peterson Oct, 11, 1949 2,551,140 Ladewig May 1, 1951 2,670,847 Egloi Mar. 2, 1954 2,678,729 Spodig May 18, 1954 

